by chessie8212
I am a student at UT and we have a single track branch line that runs through our campus to a grain elevator in Michigan. This line is at a restricted speed as trains only come through on this jointed rail at about 10 mph.
Tonight a Jeep Wrangler was struck by an NS local hauling roughly 20 grain cars back to the NS yard. It happened about 45 minutes ago. There were 4 passengers in the car when it was struck. All four were standing and talking to police officers at the scene. One will be transported to a local hospital after complaining of slight pain in his ribs.
What gets me the most is this...
The attitude of the onlookers. All were completely bashing the railroad. Any and all complaints were being said. From "When are they gonna get this stupid thing moving so I don't have to listen to it all night" to "These things come through so slow, I can understand why they did it"
They come through here slow so that people don't DIE when they do something stupid like this. The line runs right behind the Fraternity/Sorority row. God only knows what would happen when alcohol, frat boys, and fast trains are all in a close area. It's not the train's fault. It's not the railroad's fault. It's the students who attempted to beat a SHORT freight train which would have cost them maybe 2 or 3 minutes.
It angers me to hear and see the reactions of people during something like this. The best part though... these kids were trying to beat the train on a road specifically reserved for the campus police cars which enter and exit the police station right next to the tracks. Nothing like breaking more than a few rules when you're being an idiot huh?
Here is the only news story I can find on it... WUPW
Jeep Hit by Train
------------------------------------------------------------------------ --------
4/21/2004 at 22:10
TOLEDO -- Tense moments after a train slams into a Jeep near the University of Toledo campus.
Toledo Police say a Jeep Wrangler was hit on the right side by a train near the Police Station around 10:00 Wednesday night.
There aren't any warnings or crossgates in that area.
Police say the jeep was using an illegal short cut at the access road near the Police Department.
All five people managed to bail out of the Jeep before it was struck. The train was only going about ten miles per hour at the time.
Tonight a Jeep Wrangler was struck by an NS local hauling roughly 20 grain cars back to the NS yard. It happened about 45 minutes ago. There were 4 passengers in the car when it was struck. All four were standing and talking to police officers at the scene. One will be transported to a local hospital after complaining of slight pain in his ribs.
What gets me the most is this...
The attitude of the onlookers. All were completely bashing the railroad. Any and all complaints were being said. From "When are they gonna get this stupid thing moving so I don't have to listen to it all night" to "These things come through so slow, I can understand why they did it"
They come through here slow so that people don't DIE when they do something stupid like this. The line runs right behind the Fraternity/Sorority row. God only knows what would happen when alcohol, frat boys, and fast trains are all in a close area. It's not the train's fault. It's not the railroad's fault. It's the students who attempted to beat a SHORT freight train which would have cost them maybe 2 or 3 minutes.
It angers me to hear and see the reactions of people during something like this. The best part though... these kids were trying to beat the train on a road specifically reserved for the campus police cars which enter and exit the police station right next to the tracks. Nothing like breaking more than a few rules when you're being an idiot huh?
Here is the only news story I can find on it... WUPW
Jeep Hit by Train
------------------------------------------------------------------------ --------
4/21/2004 at 22:10
TOLEDO -- Tense moments after a train slams into a Jeep near the University of Toledo campus.
Toledo Police say a Jeep Wrangler was hit on the right side by a train near the Police Station around 10:00 Wednesday night.
There aren't any warnings or crossgates in that area.
Police say the jeep was using an illegal short cut at the access road near the Police Department.
All five people managed to bail out of the Jeep before it was struck. The train was only going about ten miles per hour at the time.